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Sunday, February 5, 2017

Seewalds Prepare for Home Birth

Happy Super Bowl! In an interview with PEOPLE Magazine, Jessa Seewald revealed that she is planning another home birth. With her first child, Spurgeon Seewald, Jessa was in labor nearly 48 hours before delivering at home, but she was transported to the hospital via ambulance due to loss of blood.

Baby Seewald #2 is now three days overdue. According to Jessa, she and Ben have not chosen a name, although they do know the gender. "We've only had one or two conversations about it, so we need to get on it!" the expectant mother told PEOPLE. For more, check out this week's issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands now.

The nursery was decorated in neutral colors (grays and whites) for Spurgeon's arrival and will stay that way for now. Jessa and Ben still hope to have a large family.

In the following video, the Seewalds chat with TLCme host Danni Starr about their lives as newlyweds and new parents.

While I am in favour of birthing at hospital, I think you overstep when you claim home birth is contradictory to being pro-life. Some risks are higher at home and some risks are higher at hospital births. There is no perfect, safe method. Similar to travel, where flying is more risky in some ways and driving is more risky in other ways. No perfect, safe method.

That's what they have trained midwives for. So if something goes wrong they can tell signs and call ambulance for hospital. I had both of my son's in hospital honebirth is a little strap for my pockets or I would have. My first same thing as Jessa I bleed a lot come find out the overdosed be with pitocin after birth so I lost a lot of blood. Second son I didn't have bleeding and they didn't give me pitocin after birth either. Both kids born vag no meds. I'd of much rather of had homebirth your in comfort of your own home not having to worry about nurses in and out of room and I two kids so my boys are 15 months apart and we have no family where we live so I wouldn't have to worry about my kids disturbing other women on ward.

I'm afraid that I may have to be rude here and tell you that you haven't the faintest idea of what you're talking about! The Duggars care ENORMOUSLY for their children.I am answering this both as an RN in a country where Midwives manage care and actually deliver babies (Australia)and as a mother of 5 adult children.I was very young as a 1st time mum, 17, and because of this and my BP, a series of interventions were required that led to my haemorrhaging and requiring a blood transfusion after delivery like Jessa. Even though it is something that would be seriously life-threatening in a 3rd world country, our medical services allow a post-partum bleed to be managed efficiently, with a good outcome for the mum. Jessa, while bleeding greatly after her 1st is at a much lower risk with subsequent deliveries. Even though I would bleed more than many new mums, this was resolved by iron supplements post birth. Jessa is a perfectly healthy young woman who has no apparent health issues and is having a home birth with a competent practitioner. She is unlikely to have to endure some interventions that lead to multiple interventions, increased C Section rates and post- partum infection/depression. But IF she needed any of these, she would have a smooth transition to Hospital and a quick return to home and her loving extended support system, her husband and family! Delivery in a hospital can still cause death.

So really no prenatal care, no one there with medical experience. Sorry JillBut I don't believe you are credible. The potential to haemmoraghe, possible gestational diabetes due to the size of the infant. Doesn't show responsible thinking.

Why would you say no prenatal care? How do you know? She had her ultrasound, midwives came and saw her during pregnancy and was there for delivery. I'm sure that after what happened with Spurgeon they paid a lot more attention after birth to monitor everything. I'm so tired of seeing hatefulness everywhere.

As a mom of a vaccine injured child I pray that your child is safe from the damages of vaccines. I left a book with josh and anna a couple of years ago at a conference. It was a book filled with families just mine sharing what happened to their child after vaccinations. I was watching one of your episodes the other day and noticed right away that Jills husband has vaccine damage. I know he has had poor health. I could see it in his eyes. One of his eyes appeared to droop. There are was to detox from vaccine injury. I pray that you all will see vaccines for what they are. Its a disguise of "good health" bu t they contain aborted fetal cells among other things. May God protect you all from the damages. If you would like to disuss this more I can leave you my phone number or email you about it. Sharing is caring. Taracmcmillan@gmail

For every story you tell regarding vaccinations negatively affecting children, you can find a story which encourages vaccination. I have a friend whose daughter was severely and profoundly handicapped (much more severe than a "droopy eye") because the mother was exposed to a child, who hadn't been vaccinated. That child was coming down with a severe case of measles.

You probably wouldn't be claiming that vaccines injured your child without solid evidence and proof, so I'd like to know if you have sued the vaccine maker and the doctor who administered the shots. Or started a class-action lawsuit with other parents. If so, when, and what was the outcome? If not, why not? Handing out leaflets is one thing, but you seem so sure of what happened and feel compelled to warn others, so there must be a more direct way, like a lawsuit. Could your evidence hold up in court? I have to wonder, since I'm already doubting at least one thing you wrote here, and wondering what your source was for that information. Ellie, did you do any fact checking before posting?

I know advocates of home birth defend it by saying emergencies can happen at hospitals as well. The difference is they are equipped to immediately handle it. Obviously it is Jessa's choice where do deliver her baby, but that doesn't make it a wise choice.

Is the Duggars don't support worldly entertainment and television, why have they recently become football fans? Commercials are likely defrauding, commentators often say lewd or inappropriate things, football is violent and the players often commit crimes and exhibit sinful lifestyles, sideline cheerleaders wear skimpy uniforms, the list goes on and on. What gives?

"Lotsa luck," as my mother used to say. I don't know what the aversion is to a hospital with these women. If I had labored that long with my first one, was in that much pain, and almost bled to death, I'd have camped out in the hospital from the day I found out I was pregnant again. But I guess you can't film for TV in the hospital, so it's much more lucrative to try to give birth at home...even if it almost kills you...

Once again, Danni wears a top that is too revealing to a Duggar interview. She knows this family and what they're not comfortable with, yet she dresses like this once again. Poor Ben doesn't know where to put his eyes. I can't believe Jessa didn't say something about it to the producers. What kinds of games are TLC playing with this family??? I think they do this stuff on purpose.

It's Ben & Jessa' choice to have a home birth again - I hope all goes quickly & well without any complications. Surprised they haven't shortlisted names at this late stage - it's not as if they don't have time, Jessa doesn't work & gets lots of help and although Ben studying he hardly has a demanding job. I'd be discussing names, the immenient birth... on my weekly date night for past few weeks if no other time could be found - not that I had that weekly luxury when mine were babies. For me baby names chosen can be prophetic if time is taken to pray and listen to God to share His heart for the new baby. God told Zechariah, & Mary & Joseph the names for their babies John & Jesus. Jesus means 'He saves' - as Jesus did by dying on the cross for us to save us from hell giving us eternal live.

I found it a little bit odd how they would not have requested the interviewer to wear a different shirt... and I have nothing against home births (at all) when well prepared and in good location hospital wise but maby after her experience just for safety reasons... I don't know, I don't want to judge I just get the feeling sometimes that this family is not to flexible. I mean sometimes learning through experience is the smart way to go... I mean I'm not saying I know she did not think about it but they atleast do not reflect so through there media.

After a completely normal pregnancy and labor, my daughter had complications at delivery and was successfully resuscitated by a team of eight doctors and nurses. They were in the room with us less than a minute after she was born. My daughter is currently playing with her baby dolls, healthy and alive. I am thankful for the doctors that saved her life every day.

I don't entirely discount home birth as an option, but I truly hope a more conservative plan has been agreed on this time around. I want this new baby to be healthy and not suffer any avoidable injury at birth. The children deserve to have their mother. I will pray for safety for all involved.

I totally agree with you. I also don't entirely discount home birth as an option, but I don't think it's as safe as some homebirth advocates make it seem, plus I think most of women are not well informed when they opt for a homebirth. Most of the researches done on homebirth safety are from other countries, with different culture and different health system. Some of the most important researches were conducted by homebirth advocates who wanted to somehow prove that homebirth is safe, and many of those homebirth advocates were also feminists, and that makes me suspicious. Not that I have anything against feminists (I really don't), but whoever studies a little bit about the feminist movement will see that they have a few ideological pillars where they stand on, one of them is to fight for "reproductive rights", and that includes homebirth and the right to give birth wherever and however they want (independing if it's safe for mother and baby or not). During the past years they've been trying to somewhat bring back and normalize homebirth, not only for medical reasons (evidence based medicine, as they say), but most importantly for ideological reasons that are not always supported by any evidence (empower women..."my body, my birth"...freedom of choice...etc). I have three children, one who was born at a birthing center in front of the hospital (in Canada, while I was living there) and two who were born in hospitals in Brazil, my home country. I can assure you my natural birth in Canada was 100 times better than my hospital births, it was painfull but the recovery was wonderfull for me and for my baby. But I must say: I was surrounded my experienced midwifes and in front of the hospital (that is not always the case among the Duggar family homebirths). Looking back, I don't regret giving birth in a birthing center because I didn't had money to give birth in the hospital at that time and I was trying to chose the safest option that I could pay for, but after my sister went through a traumatic delivery and had all the support she needed inside of the hospital, I can't stop thinking what would have hapenned to me or to my baby if I needed imediate help and if I needed to "cross the street" in pain and with a distressed baby to get to the hospital. When a baby is in distress, minutes will make the difference, and the meaning of "being close" will be very different. I admire the Duggar family and their desire to give birth with intimacy and modesty, but I think they don't fully understand how much they are under the feminism influence when they opt for homebirths repeatedly. To me, that is a prove that the feminism achieved what it wanted to achieve: normalization and nationwide acceptation of homebirth as a safe choice.

Agree, After an uncomplicated, normal pregnancy I hemorrhaged for 4 hours and nearly bled to death because my baby was too large. I labored 48 hours. Thank God we both survived, but it is riskier at home.

People is not a "trashy" magazine. You know,thank God that Jesus forgives us for being so judgemental or we'd all be in trouble! Hope you don't judge others in your every day life like that, you would miss many opportunities to meet wonderful loving people!

Please jessa don't be cheap! Put some of those TLC dollars to good use and get to a hospital asap when you feel labor coming on. It will be the best money you ever spend. After delivery, you will have nurses completely at your beckon call. They even can help you with personal things if you are too weak or have to have a c section. Worth every penny!

I wouldn't assume that they have home births to save money. I think they just feel more comfortable at home. She can be surrounded by a lot more family than would be allowed at a hospital. I am sure that she went over all the risks of having complications again with a midwife or doctor before she decided to have another home birth. I personally would never try to give birth at home, but maybe that is because I like epidurals.

I'm from the Netherlands (Holland) where homebirths are still very normal. In case of a normal pregnancy, everyone here visits a midwife on a regular basis. Only complicated pregnancies are taken care of by a gyn at the hospital.After I suffered from major blood loss (manual placenta removal) after my first child, I was no longer allowed to have the next births at homeIt was still allowed under supervision of a midwife, but NOT at homeSo, I really do not understand why she is having another home birth

I thought they were all about the Lord, and the simple family life, and here they are, literally reality tv-"stars"...They don't dance because it's too "worldly" and then they get their living from reality tv, which is the most mundane kind of tv...

I just delivered my third child at home a little over a year ago. I had my first two children in the hospital. My first two deliveries were full of drugs and other labor "management." My home birth was the most normal birth of the three. My midwife was very qualified and I felt at ease that if something went wrong she would know what to do or of it was serious enough to transfer to a hospital. Homebirth is a great option and characterizing it as dangerous is an unfortunate somewhat ignorant statement.

Did you make a birthing plan for the hospital and specifically say, no drugs unless absolutely needed? I have had four children in the hospital and another baby due in a few months. I have had good experiences with natural labor. I tell them don't even ask me for drugs. If I want them I'll let you know. I tell them a whole list of things going in,so they know what I want. And as long as the baby and I are doing good, labor goes how I want.

Good for you guys! Home birth is awesome and exactly how it should be. Hospitals are for emergencies and the sick. There is NO reason to fear! So many people cant even rely on God and trust man, even tho they are believers. What?!?! Come on people! Congrats on the baby that came this morning and God bless you!

The Duggars all got braces on their teeth -- often only a cosmetic/aesthetic issue issue. But when a baby is being born, they won't spend money on reducing the risk of complications to both mother and baby. Strange.

The question is not Home Birth or Hospital Birth; it's really a matter of time. The inescapable fact is that in a serious life-threatening blood loss situation, valuable, precious time is lost waiting on the transport and during transport...when literally every minute counts. If there's already a history of serious life-threatening situation, it is foolish to "try for" a home birth. Most midwives are highly trained, but don't have an ambulance crew standing in the room waiting and cannot control factors like traffic and time. The second question is how much do you love your baby that you're willing to risk it? I'm not opposed to home birth; 5 of my 6 nephews arrived that way. But I also have enough education and life experience to know that sometimes circumstances aren't what you (or even your mid-wife or OB-GYN know or were expecting). What are you trying to prove by risking it?

For crying out loud, is this going to be their shtick now? Not knowing the baby's name until days after it's born. It's going to get old and feels like click bait. Knock it off. Share your news and move on with your life.

I have had 4 home births, and it is an amazing, natural, and low-stress option (as low stress as a birth can possibly be, anyway!). I know there are good and bad midwives, just like there are good and bad doctors, but every midwife I have been seen by (4) has been very cautious and not at ALL risk-taking. If there is a concern, they would be quick to transport/transfer to a hospital. I recently had a miscarriage and my midwife was so supportive through the process. I had heavy bleeding, so in an abundance of caution she had me go to the hospital rather than wait it out at home. The hospital let me lay there for 6 hours, bleeding heavily, before I was even examined by a doctor. I certainly felt much more cared for by my midwife who was a quick text/phone call away and even made a house call to check on me. I am NOT anti doctor or anti hospital, but a qualified, careful midwife (and they always work with at least 1 nurse, at least in every case I have ever heard of) with a hospital nearby is not a careless choice. I have been allowed to hold each of my babies literally just moments after they were born, as soon as the midwives saw their vitals were good, for about hour and a half. It's wonderful for bonding and the baby can be cuddled and comforted immediately.

I think you will find many of us commenting would agree home birth is less stressful & natural. However, given Jessa' complications with the birth of her firstborn - hemorrhaging & being rushed to hospital - then she would be in a higher risk category for complications again. It would have been a wiser option to have had a hospital birth to prevent to minimise stress & trauma if complications arose this time. Thankfully all was well - maybe it's the confidence of youth, naivety, or trust & peace in God all would be well. Who knows?! The main thing is both Jessa & baby are well.

Perhaps the reason a mother holds her newborn for a short while is because the hospital personnel is conducting a well baby check on the child and is making sure there aren't any underlying problems detectable right away. This is GOOD FOR THE CHILD. A home birth provides no such precautions. It's worth it to have the best for the baby. They'll be yours to have and hold soon enough for years to come.

I have four children and pregnant with the fifth. The hospital where I go allows me to hold the baby for a while. And they never take the baby out of the room. I had to ask with my last baby if they needed him, because I was holding him for a while. But they like for the mother and baby to have skin to skin time and establish breastfeeding right away.

Best option scenario, is a home birth style set-up in a hospital. Care from your same midwife team as at home, with the birthing tub, birthing chair, etc., but doctors, OR's right there for emergencies. Don't know if that is available where they are, but I hope this will become the standard care option at all maternity hospitals.

Postpartum hemorrhage is the leading cause of death in pregnancy. I think home births are selfish. They are for the benefit of the mother to have the "experience" that she wishes to have, or that society says she should have. Rushing to the hospital in the case of an emergency delays intervention, thus wasting more of the precious resources like blood for a blood transfusion (which is limited and based on donors) when medications could have potentially controlled the bleeding earlier had the patient been in the hospital. Again, selfish. The goal of pregnancy is a healthy mom and a healthy baby and there are mechanisms in place to try to maximize the chance of that. And those mechanisms are in place in hospitals. In third world countries people travel for days to get to the hospital, because they know that is where they are safe.

I have had 2 babies in the hospital and 2 at home. A birth with a highly trained midwife team is hands dowm better than a 8 docs at a hospital. Also, just because you hemmorage with one child doesn't mean you will with the next. My midwife is very equipped for emergencies and will call for transport if needed. Most people in the US are too ignorant about homebirth to really make an argument about its saftey. It's hard to convince people who are all about hospitals and doctors that there's any other way but the truth is babies and mothers die and all day everyday in American hospitals..thay has already been proven

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Welcome to the premiere source for factual, encouraging updates on Jim Bob & Michelle Duggar and their 19 kids (TLC's 19 Kids and Counting & Counting On). Our site is not maintained by the Duggars, but we (Lily and Ellie) are personal friends of the family.